Attachment for screen-doors.



F. E. MCKINNIS. ATTACHMENT FOR SCREENDOORS.

May 23,1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Paotented lu/WMM Fmi/fami?.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1915.

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FREDRICK E. IVICKINNIS, 0F ST.JOSE1H, MISS-OIIRI.

ATTACHMENT FOR .SCREEN-DOORS.

Application fnea Aprn e, 1915. serial No. 19,526.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK E. MCKIN- Nrs, acitizenof the United States, residing at St. Joseph, .in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for ScreenfDoors, of which the following is a specication. v-

This invention contemplates an improved device especially adapted for attachment to screen doors and designed to prevent the entrance of flies or insects through the kdoor opening when the dooris either opened or closed. l

The invention has as its primary obj ect to provide a device of this character which will be automatically operable upon either opening or closing the door, and to also provide means for preventingies or insects froml entering through the door opening from over top of the door.

A further object of the invention in this connection, is to vprovide a. flapper swingingly mounted upon the free side edge of the door and to provide an operating rod for the iiapper adapted to rotate the flapper as the door is either opened or closed.

The invention has as a still further object to provide a canopy upon the door casing and to also provide a sweep arranged to coactgwith the canopy for preventing flies or insects, when the door is opened, from entering through the door opening through the space above the door. And the invention has as a ystill further object to provide an improved device which may be readily applied to any conventionaltype of screen door withoutV the necessity of structural change therein and which will be Vsimple in construction and thoroughly etlicient in use.

Other and incidental objects will appear asthe description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing my improved device applied to a conventional type of screen door, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. land more particularly showing the mounting of the flapper employed, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the canopy detached with the parts thereof disassembled but in proper operative position, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the flapper detached and the operating rod therefor, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sweep carried by the door and adapted to coact with the canopy.

For convenience, I have, inV Figs. 1 and 2 o f the drawings, shown my limproved device in connection witha conventional type of screen door, wherein the numeral 10 designates the door casing and the numeral 11,

.the door, the door being provided with side rails 12 and 13 respectively, top and bottom rails 14, and an intermediate rail 15. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the door is swingingly mounted within the casing 10 by suitable hinges connectedto the side rail 12 of the door. Mounted upon the outer face of the side rail 13 of the door is a flapper indicated as a whole by the numeral 16 and which includes a rod or shaft 17 arranged to extend longitudinally of therail 13 substantially throughout its entire length, or in other words, substantially throughout the entire height ofthe door, it being observed that the said rod at one end, is bent to provide a laterally directed terminal or arm 18. Connected to the arm 18 is a clip or sleeve 19 which, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings is preferably formed from a single strip of suitable sheet metal bent to embrace the 4arm, with its extremities disposed in overlapping relation. Disposed between the overlapping ends of the clip 19 and secured thereto in any suitable' manner is one end of a strip of 4wire screening 20, the opposite end of which isreceived between and connected to the overlapping terminals of an arm 21 connected to the shaft 17 at a.

point intermediate its ends. As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the arm 21' is also preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent to embrace the shaft, with its ends disposed in overlapping relation, and the arm 21 is, as will be noted, ofy a length substantially equal to that ofthe arm 18, being disposed to coact with said last mentioned arm in rigidly supporting the strip of wire screening or reticulate element 2() upon the shaft.

Mounted upon the shaft 17 in longitudinal spaced relation to the arm 21 is an arm 22 substantially identical in construction with the arm 21 and mounted upon the said "4 5 leye'dto the shaftif desired and arranged shaft,.contiguous.to the adjacent lower ter ininal thereof, is a terminal arm 23 also vsimilar to the arm 21. Extending'between the arms 22'and 23 va s tripof wire screening 24- or other'reticulate element, the.'said strip of' screening being suitably vsecured at its ends, to the arms. The Astripsf20'and 24 maybe madeany desiredwidth and con7 stitute ythe reticulate kbody portion of the lapper adapted to rotate vwith the shaft 17. Mounted upon the upper and `lower rails 111 ofthe door are attaching brackets rnection, it will be observed that thefbraclret 1 arrangedat the'to'p ofthe door is yadapted to Contact with the arm 18 of the said shaft for supporting the shaft vertically u'ponf the door. Secured tothe side frail 13 `of the door at pointsl immediately upon each side ofthe center 'rail 15, are yattaching brackets 27' which are falso each preferably 'for-fined from a strip of suitable sheet metal having one terminal thereof ydetach-ably 'connected tothe said rail with the othe'i` terminal bent to freely embrace lthe shaft 17. The shaft 17 is thusrotatably supported upon the vfree margin ofthe door by the several Ibrackets 2 5 and 27, withfthe'body portion of the Happer 16 vof which it forms a part, adapted to `seat fljatlyagainst the adjacent margin of the outer face of the rail 13 and against the adjacent outer face of thi? casing 10 ofthe door, in .the manner best shown in Figgl of the drawing. v

VFormed on the shaft 17,1.at a point intermediate its ends and arranged between the Aarms 21 and 22 secured tothen shaft, is al pinion 28. However, this pinion may be tofcoact therewith is a rack bar or rod 29 disposed toy extend transversely of the door y l1y s ubstantia'llyfin aplane with the center rail 15 thereof as best shown in Fig". lfof the drawings. The bar 29, at one extremity,

.1, is swingingly lsupportedfby a suitable pivot pin 30.

As best shown I'l Fig. l ofthe drawings, the .pivbt pin 3`0is-,Screw threaded adjacent one endy thereof to detac'hably fengage the casing 10 and is of a length to' extendv laterallyy .from fthe A casing, being bifuroated at its outer free end to form spaced ears 32 between which the adjacent flaty terminal 33 of the barf29 is `freely re.- ceived, the said flattened terminal of 'the bar being connected with thesaid ears-by A. l asuitablepivot pin 34 as more particularly shown in Fig. yl of the drawings,

;Tliev ,rack Vliar 29 isjarranged t0 extend freely through the longitudinally spaced the flapper to normal guide loops 35 carried bythe c enter rail 15 and at itsjfree end, is provided with `a rack 36 normally lmeshing with the pinion 28. At this point, it may be stated thatthe guide loops 35 are preferably in the nature of staples which may be 'driven into the center rail 15 ofthe door. i

It will now be seen that whenthe doorv 11 isv opened, .the rack bar 29 will yengage the pinion 28 to'rotate the shaft 17 andconmargin of the `doorin a direction away from a sequently, move the iapper 16upon the free the casing 10 and toward the outer facegof thedoor, as thedoor is swung luponits hinges. In this connection, particular attention is directed to the fact thatv such turning movement will'be imparted to theflapper 16 simultaneously, as the door 11 starts toopenf.

The rack 36 of the bar 29 is preferably arranged to actuate the flapper 16 through 1anv arc of substantially from fthe normal position shown in Fig. 1 'of therv drawings'in substantial parallel .relation to the. -casing 10 anddoor 1l, to a position at substan-L tially right angles to the door.` Uponv reaching such'last mentioned position, as the `door j' is opened, and the swinging movement of the door is then continued,- the'teethof the rack barw'ill be moved to a positionupon one side of the pinion -28 out A Aof engagement at a position at substantially right angles therewith, so that the flapper 16'willstand tothe door'. When the door is then again* closed, the teeth of the rack bar will, aswill ioo be'clear,'be again brought yinto engagement with Ithe pinion -28 vto consequently returnk position astl'ije door moves to closed position. j

It will thus be seen that the` flapperl will `be automatically operated each time the door'll isl opened or closed. The reticulate body portion comprising the elements 20 and24 ofv the said flapper will, when the c door `isbeing 'opened andwhen the said: body portion isloeing moved into angularrelation to 'the door, be adapted to pr'eventfor l renderit difficult for fliesor insectfsto enter through ythe door opening and itwilll be y observed that the construction provided is very simple and may be readily applied to anyY conventional typeof screen door withl out thev Vnecessity of structural change f Mounted abovethe door opening toextend laterally vfrom the casinglO is a canopy? l shown in detailin Fig. 3 lof the drawings. This canopy is, in general contour, preferably the shape Yot a quadrant andincludesv aframe37. Asbest illustrated in Fig. 3, the

frame 37 is formed from a'single strip'of suitable vsheet metal bent intermediate' its ends to provide side portions 38 and 39' which are joined by a longitudinally curved connecting portion 40. The side portions and 39 are preferably-straight and the side portion-39 is provided at-its free end, with a terminal lug 41 adapted to seat flatly against the adjacent free terminal of the side portion 38 to be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The frame 37 is secured to the casing 10 above the door opening in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings with the side'portion 38 of the frame seating flatly against the adjacent outer face of the casing and being detachably connected thereto by screws or other suitable fastening devices. Fitting over the frame is a reticulate body-portion 42, preferably formed of suitable wire screening and one margin of which is disposed between the side portion 38 and the casing 10 and is thus held in position. AThe remaining margins of the body portion are bent laterally in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, to seat against the inner faces of theside portion 39 of the frame and the connecting portion 40 thereof, and are held in position by a retaining .member or band 43.

The band 43 may be formed of wood or any other suitable material and is adapted to fit within the adjacent angle between the side portion 39 and the connecting portion 40 of the frame to seat against the said portions. Preferably, the retaininghand 43 is provided at longitudinally spaced points with a plurality of openings adapted to aline with similar openings formed in the side portion 39 and the connecting portion 40 of the frame, the said alined openings being disposed to receive bolts or other suitable fastening devices for detachably holding the retaining band in position in engagementwith the adjacent margins of the body portion.

Arranged to coact with the canopy mounted above the door opening, is a sweep 44 shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The sweep 44 may be formed from a strip of fabric heavy paper, bristles, or anyA other suitable material, and is preferably provided, at one margin thereof with a plurality of flexible lingers 45. The sweep 44 is secured 'tothe upper margin of the upper rail 14 of the door in any desired manner -to extend longitudinally thereof substantially throughout the transverse width of the door as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the ngers 45 extending upwardly to contact with the reticulate body portion 42 of the canopy, it being ob served that the connecting portion 40 of the frame of the canopy, is arranged concentric with the arcuate path traveled by the outer free edge of the door in its swinging movement as the door is opened or closed. It will thus be clear that the sweep 44 will coact with the canopy to prevent flies or insects from entering through the door opening from over top of the door.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is y 1. A. device of the character described including a rotatably mounted flapper, and an operating rod for the flapper, the said flapper being adapted for attachment to a door with the rod pivotally connected to the door casing, whereby the flapper will be rotated upon thedoor asthe door is opened.

2. A device ofthe character described including a flapper having a rotatably mounted shaft, and an operating rod operatively engaging the shaft,l the said flapper being adapted for attachment to the free longitudinal edge of a door with the said rod pivotally connected to the door casing, whereby the rod will rotate the shaft upon the opening of the door. y

The combination with a swingingly mounted door, of a flapper rotatably mounted thereon, the said flapper including a shaft provided with a pinion, and an operating rod pivotally connected to the door casing and provided with a rack operatively engaging said pinion whereby the flapper will be rotated when the door is opened.

4. In a device of the character described, a. flapper including a rotatably mounted shaft, and a reticulate body portion supported by the shaft upon one side thereof to rotate with the shaft, and a rod operatively engaging the shaft, the said flapper being adapted for attachment to a door with the rod swingingly connected to the door casing, whereby the flapper will be rotated when the door is opened.

5. The combination with a swingingly mounted door, of a flapper arranged upon the door, said flapper including a rotatably mounted shaft, arms carried by the shaft,

and a reticulate body portion carried by said arms and mounted to turn with the shaft, brackets carried by the door and operatively supporting the shaft, a pinion formed on the shaft, an operating rod provided with a rack operatively engaging said pinion, and a pivot pin connected to the door casing and freely supportingl said rod whereby the liapper will be rotated simultaneously with swinging movement imparted to the door.

6. The combination with a swingingly mounted door, of a flapper including a shaft rotatablymounted upon the door, a pinion carried by the shaft, and an operating rod swingingly connected to the door casing and provided with a rack normally engaging said pinion, whereby the flapper will be rotated when the door is opened, the rack being disposed to disengage the pinion at a point in the opening movement of the door.

7. The combination with a swingingly mounted door, of a rotatably mounted apper carried by the door, means for ro- `swinging`movement of the door, a canopy j supported bythe door casing, and a sweep carried'by Athe door and adapted to Coact with the canopy.` i l SL'A .device of the character describedl including afreely mounted flapper, and op erating means therefor, said Happer being I adapted forv attachment to a` door Withthe ysaid means operatively fixed ata point ad-` jacent thedoor-to move therewithvvhereby the flapperv Willbe shifted upon. the". movement of the door. w f.

. 9; A device of thecli'aracter described including a freely mounted flapper, and-operating means for the flapper,-the.f1apper being adapted for yattachment to a door with `f the said means operatively fixed at a point Copieso'f this patent may be Vobtained for five cents eacn,fby addressing the Commissioner or rat-ents adjacent the door vvhereby 'the flapper Will -be shifted upon the movement ofthe door, 'saidrmeans being adapted to disengagefthe apper ata point in the openingmovement of the'door.V y y 10. The. combination With-a. door, of a freely mounted flapperlcarrier thereby, and

means operativelyxed at a point adjacent the door for vautomatically shifting the;

FREDRICK E. McKlNNIs. [n s] l/Vitnesses: n

B. J. PHLPS, ,(lHas.l F. SCHAAF.

yWashington, D. C." Y y n .K y 

